Social Media Guidelines

Foreword

Our company welcomes your active participation in social media, where you can showcase your expertise and network with others. No one can represent our company as authentically as them, our employees. However, there are also risks and pitfalls associated with social media, and therefore some basic rules for responsible use must be observed. Our social media guidelines are designed to help you navigate the internet safely and professionally. If you have any questions about the social media guidelines or would like further information on a topic, please feel free to contact the Marketing and Communications Department at marketing@dkd.de.
We are happy to provide you with advice and assistance.

Our social media guidelines

1. You are responsible for your actions
You are responsible for your behaviour and statements on the internet, whether professional or private. You should always bear in mind that anything published on the internet does not disappear quickly.

2. Speak for yourself, not on behalf of the company.
Our marketing and communications department is responsible for official statements and publications. Make it clear that your statements are your opinion and not necessarily that of the company. A disclaimer on your social media accounts can help, for example: ‘The posts published here reflect my personal opinion and do not represent the position of my company.’ "

3. Comply with legal requirements
Laws apply just as much on the internet. You are therefore also obliged to comply with legal requirements online, such as data protection, personal rights, copyright and trademark law.

4. Trade secrets and internal information do not belong on the internet.
Trade secrets and internal information are not intended for public consumption. As a guideline, do not communicate anything that you have not seen in the form of an official announcement. The same applies to content details or internal topics where you can assume that there is a business interest in not publishing them. If you are ever unsure, simply contact the Marketing and Communications Department (marketing@dkd.de). We will be happy to help you and advise you if you are unsure.

5. Respect and decency are the be-all and end-all of communication.
Treating others with respect is a matter of course. Accordingly, adhere to the rules of decency and behave respectfully towards other people. Insults, obscenities and disparaging remarks are undesirable. Every social platform has rules; familiarise yourself with them and adhere to them.

6.Transparency, openness and authenticity as the basis of trust
Transparency, openness and authenticity are among the most important values in social media and, at the same time, form the basis of trust. For this reason, we recommend that you disclose that you are an employee of the company and use your real name when participating in discussions on topics relevant to our company. If you do not do this, or do so too late, it can quickly be interpreted as surreptitious advertising, and your good intentions will backfire. If the topic is not within your area of expertise, it is always helpful to consult with the relevant department so that you do not spread misinformation.

7. Mistakes are human, own up to them
Mistakes are not always avoidable, so what counts is dealing with the situation transparently and tactfully. Apologise for your mistake and do not try to cover it up. If you correct posts that have already been published, you must mark the corrections as such.

8. Disputes do not belong in the public arena
Do not allow yourself to be provoked into public arguments, and avoid coming across as a know-it-all. A calm head, combined with a confident, factual response, will win more than any overheated reaction. If you find yourself stuck in a discussion, please feel free to contact us at marketing@dkd.de.

9. Knowing what to do in an emergency
Have you discovered a particularly critical post, or are you concerned that a topic or incident within the company could escalate into a crisis or generate negative publicity about our company? If so, please inform the Marketing and Communications Department immediately at
marketing@dkd.de. We will investigate the matter promptly and take all necessary steps. In this context, there is no such thing as too much information; every piece of information helps.

10. Behave appropriately towards business partners and customers
Everything posted on the internet can potentially be read by our business partners. Any disrespectful behaviour reflects negatively on the entire company. Therefore, even in stressful situations or when problems arise, do not discuss them publicly. It should go without saying that negative comments and disrespectful remarks about partners, customers and potential customers are absolutely taboo. However, if you see an opportunity to help a customer solve a problem or answer a question, you are welcome to do so.

11. Better safe than sorry.
Whenever you have doubts about whether what you are planning is a good idea, simply ask the Marketing and Communications Department at marketing@dkd.de. We will be happy to help you with any questions you may have.

(As of 9 January 2023)
Source: der-socialmediamanager.de/muster-social-media-guidelines/